The 1920s were a decade of dramatic social change and political realignment. Mass media forms were shaping popular culture by disseminating information and bringing new ideas to the table. This new era of free-spirited popular culture, known as the “Roaring Twenties,” began with the creation of a dance called the Charleston. Young people enjoyed this fast-paced dance, but older Americans, on the other hand, weren't enjoying it. The Charleston sparked much controversy between generations because it was an indication that American culture was developing: "This conflict over a dance was a sign that American culture was changing, sometimes much faster than many people could or would accept ". plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get Original Essay During the 1920s, Americans had extra money to spend, and they spent it on the new products of the decade, especially the radio. The press was the main source of current events, but things changed when the first commercial radio station went on the air in 1920. Radio became the easiest mass medium to reach large audiences, and soon popular culture had a say . Films were first developed in around 1890, but at that time films were silent. Movies became a huge business in the 1920s due to World War I. People were excited to escape the problems of the post-war recession. Movies allowed people to experience different emotions than they felt in everyday life. In 1927 the film industry was revolutionized. The discovery of adding sound to films helped create more jobs, such as screenwriters and actors. Movie stars didn't become famous until dialogue became an important part of movies. These actors have become national celebrities adored by fans. The films of the 1920s shaped popular culture by exposing Americans to new fashions, new hairstyles, and a loosening of rules of social behavior; “Radio told the masses what to do, and movies showed them how to do it.” The Roaring Twenties changed women's lives forever. They were able to experience more freedom than ever before. In 1920, women were given the right to vote and could now enter politics. Women began to feel liberated, which produced a new lifestyle called the "flapper", a young woman who drank, smoked and was generally known as unfeminine. These women cut their hair into short bobs and wore dramatic makeup and short skirts. The Flapper represented youth and independence, but most women knew that this carefree lifestyle was just a phase. This new lifestyle was foreign to the older generations, who strongly disliked these new American customs. The decade is often called the Jazz Age due to the popularity of jazz music. Jazz was developed by African Americans, but has been influenced by other musical forms and musical traditions. African American migrants brought their love of jazz with them to New York City and the African American neighborhood of Harlem. Harlem became a magnet for jazz lovers, and soon thousands of jazz clubs spread throughout the area. These jazz clubs were staffed by African American musicians and dancers, but most of the patrons were white. Many first heard this new style of music on records, which radio helped spread. Records allowed people to be creative by creating their own music and releasing it for discovery. The young people.